I just could not get into this one. I wanted to so bad, a trusted friend loved it, but I was just completely disinterested the multiple times I tried.

“A December to Remember” is about three very different half sisters who are reunited in the charming country town of Rowan Thorpe when their father dies and leads them on a challenge quest/treasure hunt in order to take possession of their inheritance.

Jenny Bayliss always writes wonderful, cozy, charming, non-treacly holiday books with great representation and this is no exception.

The characters were real and likable and I loved all of the secondary characters, the strong women who keep the town of Rowan Thorpe going.

One thing that played a part in making this book a four star read for me, not a five star read, was the love story between Maggie and her employee. The reasons given as to why she couldn’t let herself love him just didn’t read true and it felt like a plot invention to complicate things and keep it from being too “happily ever after” too quickly.

That said, I love Jenny Bayliss’s books and she will remain my go to holiday author. I’d recommend her books to anyone looking for a holiday read who likes their reads less like a Hallmark Holiday movie. Can’t wait to read what she writes next!

This book is a moving and joyful read that catches the charm of the holiday season. Its engrossing characters, beautiful setting, and romance deliver a cozy and uplifting experience. I recommend this for those seeking a feel-good holiday novel to accompany them by the fireplace during the holiday season.

I’m such a big Jenny Bayliss fan and this was no exception! I love how her storylines feel atmospheric and warm while still keeping pace with the plot. A marvelous December read that I recommended to countless friends seeking holiday feels!

This was quite the heartwarming story with lots of love, tears, and laughs. I really enjoyed how different the sisters were and how they were each facing life-altering problems when their father’s death brings them all together. I adored the aspect of tradition throughout the book. And the addition of the quirky, meddlesome villagers made this so entertaining. Overall, a very cozy book to read around Christmas!

A sweet, heartwarming, and charming winter stories. Of sisters and community both coming together to make magic and everlasting relationships.

An absolutely charming christmassy read! I feel in love with the atmospheric cozy writing. This is a 5 star read! Jenny Baylis does it again!

Jenny Bayliss always lands on the holiday romance table, and they do deliver in that regard, but I personally feel Bayliss’s novels really shine for their friendships and family relationships. They’re also not too heavy on the holiday aspect! They’re just good books.

A December to Remember tells the story of three sisters navigating the death of their estranged father in the most wonderful small town setting. A fun read, despite the heavy subject matter. A Season for Second Chances and Meet Me Under the Mistletoe remain my favorite Bayliss novels, though!

A December to Remember is a pleasantly intriguing cozy holiday read set in the small British town of Rowan Thorp. Featuring three half sisters (Maggie, Simone and Star) and the last mystery their father Augustus left them, it skillfully evokes the holiday season and small town life. Thank you to Penguin Group Putnam and Jenny Bayliss for the advance copy.

Jenny Bayliss always delivers cozy Christmas stories. I loved that the focus of this one was the relationship between sisters rather than just their romantic relationships. At times, I found the trio a bit annoying but rooted for them nonetheless and was excited when they got their HEAs at the end. I loved the way the solutions were also tied in their interpersonal relationships, so that thread was consistent throughout.

This was such a heartwarming story of three sisters finding their way back to each other after their father's passing. They each had their own quirks that made them endearing, and shit they needed to work through that seemed to only be able to happen if they were together. I loved the women in this town! They were all so supportive of each other and unapologetically themselves. It was a refreshing read! The only thing that made me side eye my kindle a little was the speeches that all of the male characters made. Sure, every woman wants a man in their life to have this long and detailed speech listing all of the reasons they love you...but what are the odds that multiple men in this one town are doing that? And if that's common there, can someone give me directions? Overall, I really enjoyed this book and laughed out loud many times. Bayliss writes some great one liners.

If you follow me on my stories, you know I’ve become obsessed with Jenny Bayliss’ newest release, A December to Remember. The story is, of course, cozy but also heartbreaking and uplifting all at once. While the story has a bit of romance, it is mainly a story about three sisters who had previously let life drift them apart being pulled back together in the wake of their father's death. It takes place at the Winter Solstice and all the magic it can entail. The Winter Solstice can be quite difficult for many people, myself included. But, like the characters in the story, I have to remind myself to find the beauty in the darkness, especially during the height of the holiday season. This book gave me a bit of joy this season.

Thank you to @putnambooks and @jennibayliss for a wonderful story.

Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Group Putnam, and the author for sharing this book with me in exchange for my honest feedback!

Maggie, Simone, and Star - three completely different women with one thing in common - they all have the same father.

Their father had daughters with three different women, and although they didn't get to see him much, he always had the three girls come stay with him in the small town of Rowan Thorp every summer.

Maggie, the oldest daughter, fits the sterotype to a T. She's always putting others before herself, going above and beyond to make sure the people in her life are taken care of, and never thinks to ask others for help when she is struggling. Her husband passed away a few years back, and left her as a single mother to two kids and the sole business owner of the local grocery store. The pressure of providing for her children and keeping her business afloat is a daily struggle.

The middle daughter, Simone, seemingly has it all going on. She's head over heels in love with her wife in busy London and has a promising career, but she's carrying a burden that she won't share with anyone. She is desperate to get pregnant but has been struggling with infertility for years on end. The emotional toil it has taken on her mental health and her relationship with her spouse is threatening to blow up every good thing she has in her life.

Star, the youngest daughter, is the wild child/free spirit/hippie sister. She's had a history of toxic relationships, bad decisions, and being irresponsible, and it's earned her a reputation. When she hits rock bottom and gets evicted from her apartment and loses contact with Star, she is forced to evaluate her life. She craves routine and a safe and constant place to lay her head every night. For the first time in her life, she wants what she thought she always hated - normalcy and consistency.

When their father dies unexpectedly one December, the three sisters are forced to reconnect with each other in his small town. They visit with his attorneys and learn that he has many secrets hidden in his will, and each sister is willing to do whatever crazy tasks he's asked of them so that they can get their lives back on track. Maggie needs money to save her business and her home, Simone wants to try again for another round of IVF, and Star just needs a fresh start away from her ex.

The only problem is that the sisters are stuck in the small town that they once loved coming to every summer. The tasks laid out in the will have them working together for the first time in years toward a common goal. As they spend time together and learn more about what each woman is currently battling, they start to remember the unique and powerful gift of sisterhood.

I absolutely loved reading this book! I've got two sisters of my own and I could relate to so much of what they were going through. Sisters are MAGIC and this book was such a great reminder of how lucky I am to have them in my life. Jenny Bayliss is the queen of holiday fiction, and A December to Remember is one I will remember for a long time.

This story primarily revolves around the three North sisters, and while there are side romances interwoven throughout the plot, the core of the book lies in the relationships among siblings. The exploration of familial bonds adds depth to the storyline, providing a refreshing take on love beyond a romantic relationship.
One of the highlights of the book is the vivid setting, especially during the winter solstice festival. Jenny Bayliss skillfully allows the readers to immerse themselves in the atmosphere of the town.

The inclusion of their father’s curiosity shop adds an extra layer of charm, especially for those who share a passion for thrifting or antiquing like myself.

However, a minor drawback for me was the absence of flashbacks depicting the sister’s summers together with their father. Exploring those moments could have provided more understanding of the characters and their emotions.

This book may not fulfill traditional romance expectations, but it offers a delightful celebration of familial love, with a great setting and fantastic writing. I look forward to anything Jenny Bayliss writes in the future.

A DECEMBER TO REMEMBER by Jenny Bayliss

A cozy winter read about family, supporting your siblings and asking if people are ok because you never really know what they’re going through. Bayliss always creates a cozy setting, likable characters, and a breezy read that is comforting.

Twelve Dates of Christmas remains my favorite of her novels, but I thoroughly enjoyed this one.

In A December to Remember we are introduced to Maggie, Simone, and Star North after the death of their father- a figure that wasn't in their lives but for one month every summer. They were the "summer sisters," all coming from different mothers and getting together to spend it in the summer in a small village named Rowen Thorpe. Their father has passed, and set them along a wild and winding treasure hunt in his antique and curiosities shop. It was obvious that their father was giving them an opportunity to work together to heal themselves individually and as sisters as well, seeing as they had drifted apart over the years after their summers together ended.

I found this to be a heart warming and charming read for the Christmas season. It embodies a lot of Christmas tradition as well as the familial affairs that people can find themselves involved in during the holiday season. I appreciated the character deep dives of all three of the North girls, but at times it did feel that the book drug on a bit. There was certainly a lag during the middle, which downgraded the rating of this book for me. That being said, it was nice how the book ended and we got a wrap up of all the stories. I appreciated the side characters, although at times it did seem a bit overwhelming, and Duncan and Star's story was my favorite. Overall, I'm glad I read this book during the holiday season.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced copy of this book. All opinions within this review are my own.

A December to Remember is a heart-warming festive story set among the backdrop of a small UK Village. Three half-sisters are brought together by the death of their eccentric father and the fate of his antiques shop. The sisters are extremely different and while they spent summers together, they have drifted apart as adults. When they are summoned to the reading of Augustus's will they realize he has designed a last challenge for them that will require them to work not only with each other but the whole village in order to pull off his instructions. With charming, unique characters and the holidays approaching, Jenny Bayliss captures the true meaning of family and celebration.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam for the eARC! What a cozy holiday novel! I loved the setting, the premise: three sisters inherit a little antiques shop?! So sweet. This novel was heart warming and left me feeling like I’d had a warm cup of hot chocolate after reading it. Perfect for the holiday season and winter in general!

This is a lovely holiday tale of sisterhood. When their father passes away, half sisters Simone, Maggie and Star must come together to accomplish the tasks that their estranged father left them in order to get their inheritance. In a series of incidents and mishaps, the sisters learn more about each other, strengthen their relationships and some even find love all while saving the small town that they spent their summers in as children.

A sweet story about the love and connection between sisters. It was a little slow at times but had plenty of funny moments to liven it up.